In my '04 450, I've noticed some side to side play in my swingarm. The up and down travel still works well, so I'm sure the bearings are still good, but when you turn sharp curves it moves back and forth, you can hear the popping even when crossing uneven terrain. You can grip the back rack and shove hard to either side and see the movement in the swingarm from the frame. I removed the dust caps and saw on one side that the shaft is threaded, but the type of nut on it is weird. Are these adjustable, and if I can just tighten it back up, what kind of tool does it take? Any help would be appreciated!

 

Your swing arm bearings are shot and will have to be replaced. You will have to buy or make a special tool to remove the bolts (and locknut on the Right Side). I did mine this year for the first time and it wasnt that much fun at all.

 

Some one has apparently jacked with them before, the previous owner cut holes in the side of the floorboard plastic that covers the ends of the swingarm, so I can only assume that somebody's done something. Oh well, here goes. Do the bearings slide right out and then back in? Don't tell me they have to be pressed...will check with my local dealer on the special tool, they said they rent them out since it's usually a one time deal.

 

My bearings were very worn, they came out in peices and the races were siezed into the swing arm. I had to use a dremmel tool to cut a slot through the race then pop them out with a small chisel. To install them I just used a proper bearing driver, you can also use a large socket making sure they go in square.

 

Is it required to remove all of the shocks, suspension and things before changing the bearings, or can I just remove the swingarm bolt, take the old ones out, pop new ones in, and replace the bolt to be good?